Warning over ‘school wars’ social media trend inciting children to carry weapons – The Independent

Police and schools are on alert after posts appearing to incite children to fight using knives spread across social media. The “school wars” trend has seen the spread of posts on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat, which separate schools into red and blue teams and encourage pupils to fight using bladed weapons. At least a dozen accounts encouraging or threatening violence as part of the trend have been removed following police contact. A number of schools, mostly in London, are understood to have written to parents asking them to remain vigilant regarding the trend. In a letter seen by The Independent, one west London school warned the craze is causing “serious concern” and urged parents to check their children’s smartphones “in order to keep our school safe”. Graphics listing schools as ‘red’ or ‘blue’ are circulated on social media (TikTok) The posts divide schools into “red” and “blue” teams and urge children to “jump” anyone they see from an opposing team. In one, seen by The Independent, children are urged to “be violent” and use compass points to attack each other. Others suggest they will get video game-style “points” if they “punch an opp” (opponent) or “stain an opp”.
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